Rome (Italy). On 24 December 2024, the Communities of Mary Help of Christians of the Generalate (RCG) and Sacred Heart of the Roman Province St. John Bosco (IRO) expressed their Christmas wishes to the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, and the General Councilors.
“I am the Door” (Jn 10:9) – The key and the Door was the theme of the greeting prepared jointly by the two communities, whose guiding thread was the search for the “key” by a pilgrim to be able to conclude the pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the Jubilee, assisted by a homeless person from St Peter’s Square, witness of the movement of people around his ‘home’ due to the great event now coming.
In the flow of the dialogues, interspersed with Christmas carols and traditional dances from Vietnam, India, and Africa, manifestation of the “peoples” and multiculturalism of the Generalate, emerged the wisdom of those who can appreciate the small things of life and stop to contemplate, to grasp the essential:
“Maybe this was enough, to just stop, listen, and open your heart. You know what I say? Perhaps the key is right inside of you. When you open your heart, you let Jesus enter in. The door is Jesus. And this is the only door that really matters. You came all the way here, looked everywhere, but the answer was so simple. It was inside of you. This Christmas, remember that the key is not bought, it is not lent, and it is not lost. Is is lived! Open the door and let in the One Who really counts.”
From here – on the day of the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Francis and the Holy Year with the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope” – this is the wish for Mother Chiara and the Sisters of the Council: “The mystery of Christmas, which is light and joy, has above all, a taste of hope because, despite our darkness, the light of God shines (Pope Francis). May the light of Bethlehem, which opens the door of the heart, envelop you and transform your life into a gift of hope for all.”
Mother thanked, noting that at the Generalate you can send wishes “to the whole world” because, looking at the Sisters who danced and sang, my thoughts went to all their Provinces of belonging and their missions.
Taking inspiration from the liturgy of the day, she then highlighted two aspects: “The Lord took us where we were, in what we were doing. He chose us and called us, as he did with David. Christmas has a vocational dimension. Jesus chooses to be like us, of our human nature, to help us live as He does, and at the same time, calls us to really focus on the essential things in our lives.
The second is the dimension of the answer that God gives: ‘I am the one who makes the house for you… and your house will be forever, because from you will be born the Savior’. He is our home, so we are safe in His hands, in His will. Let us not lose the central message of Christmas: the Lord is with us and wants to stay.”
The moment ended with the exchange of gifts with the Animators, Sister Carla Castellino of the Generalate, and Sister Antonella Cangiano, of Sacred Heart Community.
Photos: Flickr FMA
